Every year thousands of workers are treated for severe burns from arc flash accidents. An electrical arc flash is immediate and if not properly prepared has changes lives in ways most people don’t like to think about. But if you work with electrical equipment you need to think about it. Because fortunately arc flash hazards can be minimized and reduced through fastidious safety precautions, including knowledge of how and when arc flash can occur, and always wearing compliant (or better) safety gear and clothing.

The following videos have been produced and recorded by various sources. They all demonstrate the intense power and dangers of an arc flash while performing sometimes routine electrical work. Some are videos of laboratory testing of arc flash conditions and severity. Others are merely demonstrations, while some show real live arc flashes.

Any video that shows a real person being harmed from an arc flash is noted as some people may not wish to see real-world results from an arc flash.

We will continue to add resources on arc flash prevention and preparation. This page is intended to convey the real life dangers and severity of an arc flash, because some people just don’t take workplace safety until they see the dangers for themselves.

Protect yourself

Flame resistant PPE and apparel from Benchmark can help protect you from the power demonstrated on this page.

34 to 13kv Flash Incident

Here we see rampant arcing on powerlines in an area neighborhood that eventually becomes
to arc on and in connected houses.

In the words of one television transmission engineer (idsound) who commented on the video at YouTube, "This video gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “power surge” as well as a renewed respect for the amount of energy the power distribution system can deliver."

The following videos contain real people who are being or have been harmed by arc flash explosions. Please be aware before watching.

Arc Blast

Here three electrical workers are inspecting a 138KV when an arc flash occurs.

NOTE: While the video is shocking, there are no graphic images and the workers seem relatively okay, though one worker continues to strip of his PPE indicating
some level of discomfort. Hopefully though he will be fine.